Will the Patriots trade Brady before he retires?

[StupendousMan]

Seymour (5 Pro Bowls), Milloy (4 Pro Bowls), Mankins (6 Pro Bowls) -- all traded by the Patriots at some point after they reached their peak, but long before they were obviously done.  One might conclude that the New England management is low on sentimentality.
 
So, Tom Brady has been named to 9 Pro Bowls, and is very likely past his peak.  One would guess that he'd garner a pretty good return in a trade now, and probably even after this season, maybe even the year after that.
 
Brady's current contract runs through 2017; at the end of the 2017 season, he'll be 40 years old.
 
Will Brady be traded, or retire as a Patriot?  If you were in charge, what would you choose?
 
Edit: Milloy was cut, not traded.  Thanks, t4w.

 

[DJnVa]

I don't think he'll be traded. I know people can talk about how even Montana ended up on another team, but I just don't see it happening.

 

[tims4wins]

Milloy was cut, not traded

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Hes made mention of wanting to play into his mid 40s. I dont see the Pats giving him a new contract after this one is up.

He finishes his career somewhere else.

 

[wutang112878]

This is a valid question but I wish we could save this for another day. When Bill throws one of these ridiculous curves at me I always need a day or two before I think rationally again

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

I think a more likely question is:
 
Will Brady retire when he is traded?

 

[Harry Hooper]

Brady & BB have a secret deal in place. Tom will retire if the Pats win the Super Bowl this season or next. Hence the drafting of Garoppolo. 
 
If the Pats don't win, however, BB will trade his ass out of town.

 

[seantoo]

Sentimentality is for losers

 

[Stitch01]

Would need the confluence of a slippage in play and a desire to play past his current contract. No such thing as a sacred cow for the a Pats, but I don't think it happens.

 

[tims4wins]

Given his current team friendly deal, if he is willing to go year to year after this deal is up (or have a new contract structured so it will never have a big cap hit), then I think he plays in NE until BB tells him behind closed doors that he isn't good enough to start any more, and he will hang em up thay day.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Exactly what Tim just said.  So long as Brady is willing to play here for team friendly money, and so long as he's good enough to start over whatever else is on the roster, he'll be here.  Yes, BB and company are not sentimental and will seemingly cut ties with anyone, but cutting ties with a HOF QB who is literally the face of the franchise, and is still as good as anyone in the world at his position, and who has structured his contract in such a way as to allow the team to keep him and get players to remain competitive, he's not going anywhere.

 

[AbbyNoho]

No. Not because they wouldn't, but because I see Brady as the kind of guy who will hang it up before he stinks enough for it to be worth the Patriots playing another QB.

 

[mpx42]

Don't see it happening, unless his skills slip dramatically and he wants to keep playing.

Kraft made those comments a year or two ago about how Montana had to finish his career with the Chiefs and he didn't want to see that happen to Brady - I know the Patriots are unsentimental but Mankins isn't Brady, by a long shot. They'll do what they have to unless it's unreasonable.

Meaning: they might refuse to give him a new contract after 2017 if they want to go with another player, but dumping him a year early for a second round pick? I will be beyond shocked.

 

[GBrushTWood]

As we saw with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, these roster spots can change quickly year to year. If anything is going to spell the end of Brady's time with the Patriots, I feel like it's some type of serious injury. I hope I am dead wrong, but I see that as likelier to happen over the next 2-3 years than drastic skill decline.
 
Assuming Belichick stays around for the next 3 years, then I expect him to trade Brady.

 

[Laser Show]

No. Not because they wouldn't, but because I see Brady as the kind of guy who will hang it up before he stinks enough for it to be worth the Patriots playing another QB.

This. But BB may try to get ahead of it and get value out of Brady... but that could be detrimental to the team enormously on a short term basis. I think Bill ends up going the safe route and Brady just retire when it's time for a new sheriff.

 

[Jungleland]

I think a Brady trade at some point down the line is a very realistic possibility IF it's what Tom wants. Barring complete ineptitude in the hunt for his successor, at some point the next man up will make more sense as the starter for this team. If Brady truly wants to play into his mid-forties, he will be traded. If he doesn't, or if he values the single team aspect of his legacy, he will retire when he is no longer the best option for the Pats. Ultimately BB will decide when that is, but beyond that I think it's largely Tom's decision. The greatest player in the history of the franchise is not walking into that office sometime next summer to be blindsided by a trade. If Bill and Tom haven't discussed the end of his career at length by now I'd be absolutely shocked.

 

[uncannymanny]

This. But BB may try to get ahead of it and get value out of Brady... but that could be detrimental to the team enormously on a short term basis. I think Bill ends up going the safe route and Brady just retire when it's time for a new sheriff.

 
What is the reasoning behind this thought though? OP has already had to walk back 1/3 of his original statement. I just don't see the precedent that would lead me to believe that arguably the best player that has ever put on the uniform would be traded.

 

[Kliq]

I think it is hard to compare Brady to the other cut/traded players, not just because Brady is such a legend, but also because it is just so much harder to find above average QB play than it is at SS or Guard. I like to think that Tom is classy enough to walk away when the time is right and not embarrass himself. There is no indication during his career that he is anything but a complete class act.

 

[dbn]

I'm writing this post before reading anyone else's.
 
I suspect that the Brady/Belichick/Kraft relationship transcends that of the former key players that were traded. Well, "transcends" probably implies more than I mean to imply. I mean that I don't think he'd play for another team - he's done enough, experienced enough, made enough, etc. - and BB and Kraft know this, and know that he'd retire before playing for another team, so there is no value in trading him. I think they'll talk about his final days with the Patriots behind closed doors, and he will retire a Patriot. 
 
I of course know nothing; but I speculate anyway.

 

[wutang112878]

Lets run with the line of thinking that Brady declines, BB wants to move on but Brady doesnt want to stop playing, because we all agree thats the only scenario where he would be moved.  If that happens then given Brady's status, tenure with the team and being one of the ultimate BB type of guys for his entire career I think he goes the route of Light, Bruschi and Scarnecchia. 
 
In the 2011 draft in April we took Solder and then in July or Aug we resigned Light to a 2 year deal.  Reading between the lines, I think Light was debating retirement and Bill was able to get him to stick around for one more year while they developed Solder.  One way or another they basically planned for his retirement.
 
With Bruschi in that last camp he was just a shell of himself.  He was getting pushed around, lost all his speed, etc and was playing with the 2nd and 3rd teams IIRC.  I'm not exactly sure if Bill had to pull him into his office and help him face reality or if Bruschi just realized it on his own, but I really want to believe that Bill sort of helped him come to grips with his current skillset and what might happen if he didnt retire.
 
As we found out this offseason with Dante, he actually wanted to retire after the 2012 season but Bill got him to come back last year.
 
Bill's not sentimental but it seems with people that he is really close with and situations where contract negotiations arent contentious or the guy wont take a discount to stay here at the end (ie Seymour, Willie, Lawyer) then the situation can be a ride into the sunset.  Brady's always been his type of guy and Brady's taken a lot of discounts to stay here, and my thought is more driven by emotion than logic here but I want to believe that this will be a peaceful ride into the sunset so I dont see a trade on the horizon.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Brady & Bob Kraft have a secret deal in place. Tom will retire if the Pats win the Super Bowl this season or next. Hence the drafting of Garoppolo. 
 
If the Pats don't win, however, BB will trade his ass out of town.

 
FTFY.
 
Brady is building some huge mansion right next to Kraft's house.  Why would he do that?  Is there any reason he and Giselle would want to live in Chestnut Hill after he leaves the Patriots?

 

[Toe Nash]

I think it is hard to compare Brady to the other cut/traded players, not just because Brady is such a legend, but also because it is just so much harder to find above average QB play than it is at SS or Guard. 

This is it for me. QB is so important that they would have to have a backup who is a better or nearly as good of an option. BB is willing to trade or cut a popular guy while he still can play but hasn't been willing to punt a whole year (he even said that w/r/t drafting JG). After they traded Seymour they were weaker on the line but still won 10 games.
 
If Brady declines some, and JG or someone else develops, I could see it.

 

[dcmissle]

Exactly what Tim just said.  So long as Brady is willing to play here for team friendly money, and so long as he's good enough to start over whatever else is on the roster, he'll be here.  Yes, BB and company are not sentimental and will seemingly cut ties with anyone, but cutting ties with a HOF QB who is literally the face of the franchise, and is still as good as anyone in the world at his position, and who has structured his contract in such a way as to allow the team to keep him and get players to remain competitive, he's not going anywhere.

+2. Brady can create value and added time by limiting his financial demands. In this connection, see the Mankins thread and the Pats' request that he take a pay cut.

But I will add that JG is the wild card. If he is as good as BB hopes and some people project, they at some point will have to clear the spot for him. SF did not part ways with Montana because of Montana; that was primarily driven by Steve Young.

 

[soxfan121]

+2. Brady can create value and added time by limiting his financial demands. In this connection, see the Mankins thread and the Pats' request that he take a pay cut.

But I will add that JG is the wild card. If he is as good as BB hopes and some people project, they at some point will have to clear the spot for him. SF did not part ways with Montana because of Montana; that was primarily driven by Steve Young.

 
Spot on. Brady goes when he is no longer the best player for the position. I will not be surprised if he is traded and based on his own comments, neither will Brady. 
 
I still want JG to never see the field in a regular season game for at least three years.

 

[moondog80]

He might get released and sign elsewhere, he might ask for a trade, but he'll never, ever get traded out of the blue like Mankins/Seymour/Moss.  Both because of who he is, and because it's a lot harder to do that with a QB.

 

[amarshal2]

BB is highly analytical and rational not heartless.  On the flip side, no individual is greater than the team and BB consistently puts the team first no matter how difficult the choice may be.  Brady knows this and repeats it in one form or another 10x per season.  
 
When the day comes where Brady and Bill are not on the same page about Tom's role on the team they'll sit down and have a discussion.  Hopefully they'll be able to work it out as they always have in the past.  If, at the end of that day, Brady has decided he wants to start at QB more than he wants to retire a lifetime Patriot and Bill has decided that it's no longer in the best interest of the Patriots to have Tom as the starting QB then they'll part ways and it will be a surprise to neither party.  I can't see this going down any other way or for any other reason.  Sure, there could be hard feelings, but not a surprise.  Also, Tom has never let money get in the way before and I expect that will continue so long as the Patriots are fair, as I am sure they will be with their GOAT.

 

[coremiller]

+2. Brady can create value and added time by limiting his financial demands. In this connection, see the Mankins thread and the Pats' request that he take a pay cut.

But I will add that JG is the wild card. If he is as good as BB hopes and some people project, they at some point will have to clear the spot for him. SF did not part ways with Montana because of Montana; that was primarily driven by Steve Young.

 
The Montana situation isn't really analogous.  When SF traded Montana before the 1993 season, Montana hadn't played a game in two years due to injury and Steve Young had just been named league MVP after one of the best seasons any QB had ever had to that point.  And supposedly Montana asked to leave even though the team was willing to name him the presumptive starter going into training camp, over the reigning league MVP.  

 

[Tony C]

I'm not sure if others saw the interview with ESPN when they visited Pats' camp. They were throwing the usual softballs (Teddy B and I think Hannah Storm...or someone) and when Bruschi mentioned that he gave Brady 4 more years TB's head jerked back and he gave what appeared to be a true WTF! double take and firmly disagreed.
 
fake edit: just did a web search and Reiss references it. http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4765257/brady-scoffs-at-talk-of-only-4-more-years
 
I don't see it in the video that accompanies Reiss' story, but my memory is that it was less jokey and more that Brady seemed genuinely ...not pissed, but just genuinely wtf? about it.
 
real edit:
oh, after that, I forgot to make my point: my guess is that Brady doesn't go gently into the good night, but rather rages against it. More power to him. When I was a kid I always had the "why don't these guys go out on top?" attitude. Now I get that if you like something and if defines your life, why would you walk away -- to aimlessly wander the halls of some mansion? (Not to mention the cash is good).
 
My guess is either that BB retires before TB does, or if BB sticks around TB ends up moving on at some point.

 

[soxfan121]

My guess is either that BB retires before TB does, or if BB sticks around TB ends up moving on at some point.

 
Bold prediction, TonyC. ;-)
 
I think TB goes before BB. I buy the theory that BB wants to do it with someone else. I also know that BB is a cold-blooded prick who only cares about winning. I believe when TB is no longer the best QB, he won't play for the Patriots anymore. I will be sad. 

 

[Infield Infidel]

+2. Brady can create value and added time by limiting his financial demands. In this connection, see the Mankins thread and the Pats' request that he take a pay cut.

But I will add that JG is the wild card. If he is as good as BB hopes and some people project, they at some point will have to clear the spot for him. SF did not part ways with Montana because of Montana; that was primarily driven by Steve Young.

 
It wouldn't put it beyond Brady to take minimal money and back-up a younger starter for a season or two. He obviously loves playing and loves being around the team, and he could certainly help a younger starter, and if necessary come in and play a few games here and there. 
 
edit- maybe not Jimmy, but perhaps the next guy (if Jimmy gets traded)

 

[Tony C]

 
Bold prediction, TonyC. ;-)
 
I think TB goes before BB. I buy the theory that BB wants to do it with someone else. I also know that BB is a cold-blooded prick who only cares about winning. I believe when TB is no longer the best QB, he won't play for the Patriots anymore. I will be sad. 

 

 
My wording was milquetoasty/unclear: by "moving on" I meant pretty much what you predict -- that Brady will end up the starting QB in Jacksonville or something, and eventually be a back-up in KC following on the heels of his childhood hero Joe Montana. And, yes, will be depressing for us but he'll be fine with it. That's by far the most likely result, imho.  I don't think either BB or TB are the type to just retire at the "correct" age, be that age 65 or 40.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

The greatest player in the history of the franchise is not walking into that office sometime next summer to be blindsided by a trade. If Bill and Tom haven't discussed the end of his career at length by now I'd be absolutely shocked.

 
Believe it or not, we have some footage here of that very conversation.
 

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTtpWgrhS78

 

[dcmissle]

 
The Montana situation isn't really analogous.  When SF traded Montana before the 1993 season, Montana hadn't played a game in two years due to injury and Steve Young had just been named league MVP after one of the best seasons any QB had ever had to that point.  And supposedly Montana asked to leave even though the team was willing to name him the presumptive starter going into training camp, over the reigning league MVP.  

Yes, but the fact remains that the writing was on the wall for some time, which is what pissed off Montana so much.

And another analogue is Peyton Manning. He clearly was pushed out by an owner determined to extend the expiration date on his QB by at least a dozen years.

So too, potentially, here if JG is deemed a first rate starting QB. They are not going to trade him given Brady's advanced age, and they certainly are not going to franchise him when he reaches the end of his contract.

Of course, whether JG is viewed this way in another 3 years is very much an open question.

 

[dbn]

Brady is going to time his retirement to coincide with the next gubernatorial race. If he wins, BB also retires and takes a job as Tom's press secretary.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Hes made mention of wanting to play into his mid 40s. I dont see the Pats giving him a new contract after this one is up.

He finishes his career somewhere else.

Yes. I gave virtually 0% chance of Brady retiring with the Patriots based on Brady's comments and Garoppolo's apparent development. How awkward will it be when his "Cincinnati Bengals" visit Foxboro?

 

[Reverend]

 
FTFY.
 
Brady is building some huge mansion right next to Kraft's house.  Why would he do that?  Is there any reason he and Giselle would want to live in Chestnut Hill after he leaves the Patriots?

 
That's Senator Brady to you, bub.
 
I wonder if a wild card here is the length of tenure these two have had together. For either Brady or Belichick, playing without the other will likely be like dating after a divorce. They are two consummate football geeks who have tremendous respect and admiration for the geek on the other gets on their football.
 
Brady's situation is interesting because unless there is a serious injury, there is reason to believe that he could be a first string QB on many NFL teams. More specifically, there would be a period where he would be good enough to start on non-contenders. But what would that be like for a guy who is used to contending basically every year? It really brings the issue of the love of the game into high relief: is the love just for the game or for competing to win? Because, again bracketing injury, a guy like Brady is likely to be able to play longer than he can compete.

 

[Stitch01]

One thing to remember, per Pats Cap
 
December 8, 2013 update On February 26, 2013 Albert Breer, a NFL media reporter, reported that "The upshot of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's new contract, which in effect turns his old agreement into a five-year, $57 million deal with the three new years tacked on, is in the guarantees. Brady gets a $30 million signing bonus as part of the deal, and that will be paid out between now and early 2015. In addition, his base salary of $1 million this year and $2 million next year are fully guaranteed. As of now, his $7 million base in 2015, $8 million base for 2016 and $9 million base for 2017 are guaranteed for injury only. However, if he's on the roster for the last game of 2014 season, the $24 million due from 2015 to 2017 becomes fully guaranteed." 
 
That means Brady is here until 16 and probably isnt getting moved during his current contract (Brady is no dummy, the contract structure tying the Pats to him through age 40 isnt really an accident).
 
I think easily the most likely outcome is Brady plays four more years and then retires (and the second most likely outcome is that he plays for the Pats on a lesser salary in '17 and beyond), but I think its way more likely Brady moves on as a free agent rather than getting traded if he's going to play longer and the Pats want to move on.

 

[DourDoerr]

You can't underestimate Brady's competitiveness.  It all depends on that 4th ring.  If Brady is able to get it this year or next, then he'll have matched Montana and Bradshaw and separated himself enough from Manning to be considered as the best of this generation and I don't think he'd then want to play in another organization.  He'd retire when BB indicates he's ready to move on.
 
If he doesn't get that ring here and his play declines some - with JG a viable alternative at an enormous discount in salary - he'll be traded as BB will want to upgrade and Brady will want to chase that ring.  The one concession I'd guess Kraft and BB would make to Brady is that they'll ensure he's traded to a team with a chance at a Super Bowl like Arizona.  Otherwise, they'll release him and freeing him to find a team as Manning did.
 
The only team I'd think he'd consider going to as a backup would be the Niners.  Kaepernick is still uneven as a thrower and as a running QB there's the heightened chance of injury.   Also the Niners have the Montana connection and, of course, they play in Brady's childhood backyard - now with a brand new stadium.
 
 

 

[StupendousMan]

One thing to remember, per Pats Cap
 
December 8, 2013 update On February 26, 2013 Albert Breer, a NFL media reporter, reported that "The upshot of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's new contract, which in effect turns his old agreement into a five-year, $57 million deal with the three new years tacked on, is in the guarantees. Brady gets a $30 million signing bonus as part of the deal, and that will be paid out between now and early 2015. In addition, his base salary of $1 million this year and $2 million next year are fully guaranteed. As of now, his $7 million base in 2015, $8 million base for 2016 and $9 million base for 2017 are guaranteed for injury only. However, if he's on the roster for the last game of 2014 season, the $24 million due from 2015 to 2017 becomes fully guaranteed." 

 
If I understand the above correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong), then the Patriots will pay Brady $9 million in 2017.
 
How does that compare to the salaries of other NFL quarterbacks?  I found one site (http://www.spotrac.com/rankings/nfl/quarterback/) which claims to list the 2014 salaries of quarterbacks.  I suspect that the important numbers may be cap hits, not salaries, but I had a harder time finding those.  So, let's go with the salary numbers.  How many current QBs are getting at least $9 million per year? 
 
According to that list, the answer is nine, with Jay Cutler at the top ($17.5 M) and Carson Palmer at the bottom ($9 M). 
 
When one accounts for inflation between now and 2017, one might guess that there could be 9 - 12 teams willing to pay $9 million for a QB in that year.   Would any of them be willing to take Brady in a trade?   I dunno, but it seems to me that his $9 million guaranteed in 2017 does not necessarily make him so hard to trade.
 
(If I've missed the important factors in salary vs. cap hit, please set me straight)

 

[DourDoerr]

I don't think he'd ever go to another team as a backup. If he's willing to be a backup there's very little doubt that NE would keep him around until he was 50 if he wanted to and took the salary to be such. I don't see him going to another team to hold a clipboard and hope for an injury.
 
Edit: not to mention, this isn't happening anytime soon so pointing out specific QB situations like Kap is kind of pointless.

I don't think he'd want to be a pure backup, but if there's a chance he could start and he didn't have a 4th ring and the team was competitive I'd think a team like the Niners - his favorite team growing up - would be the first and maybe only option.  As we've seen with multiple players, a reduction in role and/or money usually means a change of address.  I'd be surprised if Brady was an exception.
 
I have to disagree that it's pointless to offer up Kap.  Teams stick with young QB's - especially ones that show early promise - sometimes longer than they should given the results on the field.  It's not unreasonable to think the Niners would still be playing Kap a couple of years from now even if his production either flatlines or regresses.  Because of the enormous amount of cap space Brady takes up - and that this team is pretty young with a bunch of players - Jones, McCourty, Collins, Hightower, etc. - that will need to be paid, it'll be tempting to free that cash in the next 2-3 years.  Especially if JG produces in the coming camps and preseasons.  
 
Mankins is the latest reminder of this organization's priorities.  Brady is special, and some allowances would be made, but BB has yet to allow sentiment to jeopardize his team's standing.  I'd be very surprised if he were to let Brady do just that (and it's very odd to think of Brady negatively affecting this team).

 

[Stitch01]

Yeah, you are right, it makes him more uncuttable than untradeable, you are right about the cap hit and I am wrong.

 

[EricFeczko]

I reluctantly voted no, because Belichick is analytical and rational. He's probably aware that QB's don't really decline much with age, or more precisely, the random year-to-year variation in QB performance is greater than any visible decline through 41 years of age.
 
http://www.advancedfootballanalytics.com/2011/08/how-quarterbacks-age.html
 

Yes, but the fact remains that the writing was on the wall for some time, which is what pissed off Montana so much.

And another analogue is Peyton Manning. He clearly was pushed out by an owner determined to extend the expiration date on his QB by at least a dozen years.

So too, potentially, here if JG is deemed a first rate starting QB. They are not going to trade him given Brady's advanced age, and they certainly are not going to franchise him when he reaches the end of his contract.

Of course, whether JG is viewed this way in another 3 years is very much an open question.

Peyton as an analogue makes less sense than Montana. He was released (not traded) after a fusion surgery that made many question whether his arm strength would return.
JG will only be evaluated as a first rate starting QB if he gets many snaps in regular season NFL games (and plays well, obviously). 99/100 times, this will only happen if Brady gets hurt.

 

[ALiveH]

I voted he'll trade him because at some point in the next 5 years Brady's perceived value will be greater than the drop off between Brady and the next best QB on the roster plus the associated cost savings.  It would be so Belichickian to trade Brady in say 2016 for an early round pick and start JG, if JG was killing it in practice / preseason / garbage time / short-term brady injury time.

 

[DourDoerr]

 
You're trying to project which team would be the "only" option for him to be a backup with a chance to start (for whatever reason) and is yet still a contender 3 or 4 year from now. There's a lot wrong with that. There's nothing to say SF will be a SB contender at that point. Further, if Brady is going to another team he's doing it to be a starter. He;s not going elsewhere to sit on the bench. The fact that it was his favorite team as a kid means literally nothing. 

Again, I'm going to have to disagree - although I don't feel strongly enough or care enough to continue beyond pointing out a few quibbles.
 
I never said 3-4 years from now.  I did say 2-3 years.  Big difference.  I should have been more precise though as I think BB will be looking hard at a change 2 years from now.  He's done it with every player that's walked through and I don't think he stops now.
 
As for favorite team growing up, I think if you gave Brady the choice of playing for Tennessee or SF and both situations were hypothetically the same, he'd take the Niners job.  I think a favorite team growing up matters.  Maybe not a whole lot, but it's a factor.
 
As for backing up, I think the chances are extremely slim and offered up the Niners as the only situation that he'd settle for and gave some reasons.  On top of that, it's out there that Brady has political ambitions and that fits the narrative of his competitive nature and what does an athlete do after retirement.  Right now three locations would give Brady the appearance of not being a carpet bagger in a run for office.  NE, NY and CA.  NY is problematic.  NE is a slam-dunk  with the caveat of weather/lifestyle.  If he wanted to run in CA, playing a season for a beloved local team can't hurt.  Again, though, I don't think it's likely, but I do think SF is the only place where he'd consider the role.

 

[simplyeric]

I think that unless Brady could bet substantial value in trade, they'd keep him until his performance is something lower than the 2001/2002 version of Tom Brady. If Brady can structure his salary in a helpful way going forward (next contract) I think BB would be happy to have a very reliable game managing qb that allows him to bolster his D and whatever market-inefficiency offense he sees. Multiple pass-catching RB's and a blocking WR? Okey dokey!
It's not until Brady can't dink and dunk that he becomes a liability, as long as the money works out.
edit:
Partly because, if Garoppolo really show a lot of progress, he'd be a valuable trade piece while still being essentially an unknown in terms of how he'd actually perform.  If BB can get value from the less-known quantity (Garoppolo), and keep the known quantity (Brady), he very well might.  Unless/until Brady really falls of a cliff, skills and decision making wise.  I would think BB would like to avoid the critical uncertainty of the QB position.
 
On the other hand, maybe he wants to prove that he can do it differently, with a different QB.  Not anything against Brady, just, excited for the challenge?

 

[JimBoSox9]

Brady thinks maybe
 
 

"You know, you're expected in this business to perform. That's what football is about. This is not a personality contest. This is a very highly competitive game where your physical skill set and what it means to the team, they place a value on that. If that value fits within the range, then great. If it doesn't, they don't want you and then you go somewhere else to play. 
 
"Once no one else wants you, or you don't want to play anymore, that's when you retire. Some guys make the decision to retire early. So I like working hard at it and I'm going to try to be the best I can be for as long as I can be that. 
 
"Hopefully the team values that and if they don't, then I'll probably have a tough day at some point. But that's what football is all about." 

 
 
It's an extended quote, click through for the whole thing.

 

[soxfan121]

 
Brady thinks maybe
 
 
 
 
It's an extended quote, click through for the whole thing.
 

 
I got wood. The whole thing is why Brady makes fanboys drool.

 

[bakahump]

Was talking about this with a friend at work.
 
I am convinced now that BB will cut Brady a "year too early" when he can replace him with JG, rather then resign Brady for 1-2 years and lose JG.
 
Thats assuming a couple things....
 
1. that they See JG as a Starting NFL QB.  If they dont then I expect they will "Malllet" him....keep him for his rookie deal...while using another high draft pick on a QB this year or next while resigning Brady for a final 1-2 years as that "New QB" learns the system. THAT QB (or god I hope not....some Backup from another team) will then replace Brady.
2. That BB doesnt retire and "pass the buck" of cutting Brady onto McPatricia.
 
Those are big assumptions but I think relatively safe ones. 
 
JG at this early stage "looks" like the real deal.  3 more years of experience in the system probably wont do anything to decrease that while making Brady 3 years older.  At that point if I assume Brady is only slightly better or the same as JG then Brady goes.  I think thats distinctly possible. You then resign JG (relatively cheaply as his track record doesnt demand a high contract).....and let TB walk (or ideally retire).
 
And I cant see the character that we know as BB suddenly decide "I dont want to make franchise altering decisions".
 
Final assumption is that Brady doesnt himself decide to hang them up before JGs rookie deal expires.  Which could happen....but seems unlikely.
 
I know its nothing ground breaking....but the discussion with my buddy clarified  this set of events in my view.